Contemporary fiction titles are those which focus on the present or near past. Stories rooted in the current cultural, social, and political landscape which feature characters we can all recognise.
Contemporary Fiction Books
Headline Publishing Group Alley Urchin
Book Synopsis To return to those she loves, she must also return to the past... In the second instalment of her Emma Grady trilogy, bestselling author Josephine Cox brings us Alley Urchin, a gripping saga of a woman determined to overcome the brutality of life as a convict to return to the man she loves. Perfect for fans of Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin.By 1870 Emma Grady has spent seven years of servitude as a convict in Australia. Emma lives for the day when she will return to England, to face those who cheated and betrayed her. And to Marlow Tanner, the man she loves - and whose tragic child she had borne and then lost.Emma struggles to make something of her life in Australia despite the sinister presence of her employer''s evil son, Foster. His determination to ''have'' Emma leads to dark and terrifying consequences. As Emma battles against adversity, she is unaware that in England the child she has given up for dead is being loving
£8.24
Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press Brown Dog
Book Synopsis What Harrison does on every page of Brown Dog is have fun . . . not simply for the sake of delight but because he believes delight is as close to sublimity as humans can get. . . . The great project of life, he reminds us, is to sit still long enough to appreciate it.” Anthony Doerr, The New York Times Book ReviewBrown Dog is . . . an everyman on the most fundamental level . . . vividly, evocatively, alive. . . . These novellas read like a nuanced conversation between author and character. . . . Masterful.” David Ulin, Los Angeles TimesNew York Times best-selling author Jim Harrison is one of America’s most beloved writers. Of all his creations, Brown Dog has earned cult status with readers in the more than two decades since his first appearance, scrambling to stay out of jail after his salvage-diving operation uncovers the frozen body of an Indian man in the waters of Lake Superior. A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, now in paperback, this book gathers together all the Brown Dog novellas, including one that has never been published.Brown Dog is a bawdy, reckless, down-on-his-luck Michigan Indian, a former pulp cutter who looks on work as something to do when he needs money, far inferior to the pleasures of fishing. Of course, the flip side of this is that he’s never far from catastrophe. Overindulging in food, drink, and women while just scraping by, B.D. meets a nubile archaeologist who presses him for the location of a sacred Native American burial ground; the ensuing flirtation with radicalization results in B.D. wandering Los Angeles in search of a stolen bearskin. When he returns home a little older and wiser, B.D. will seek out family and end up pining for the lesbian social worker who’s pushing him toward stability. The collection culminates with He Dog,” written for this book, which finds B.D. still marginally employed and looking for love (or sometimes just a few beers and a roll in the hay) as he goes on a road trip from Michigan to Montana and back, in search of an answer to the riddle of family and, perhaps, a chance at redemption.Witty and poignantly human, Brown Dog underscores Harrison’s place as one of America’s most irrepressible writers, and one of our finest practitioners of the novella form. It is the ideal introduction (or reintroduction) to Harrison’s irresistible everyman.
£13.99
Mira Books The Bay at Midnight MIRA
Book SynopsisHer family's cottage was a place of innocence for Julie Bauer until hersister was murdered.It's been many years since that August night, but Julie's memories of Izzy's death still haunt her.Now someone from her past is asking questions about what really happened. About Julie's own complicity. About a devastating secret her mother kept from them all.Julie must gather the courage to revisit her past and untangle the complex emotions that led to one unspeakable act of violence on the bay at midnight.For fans of JODI PICOULT, this is a must read.Praise for Diane Chamberlain Fans of Jodi Picoult will delight in this finely tuned family drama, with beautifully drawn characters and a string of twists that will keep you guessing right up to the end.'' StylistA marvellously gifted author. Every book she writes is a gem' Literary Times'Essential reading for Jodi Picoult fans' Daily Mail'So full of unexpected twists you''ll find yourself wanting to finish it in one sitting. Fans of Jodi PicoulTrade Review"Diane Chamberlain is the Southern Jodi Picoult." - New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe "Diane Chamberlain is a marvellously gifted author! Every book she writes is a real gem." - Literary Times "...a strong tale that deserves a comparison with Jodi Picoult..." - Lovereading.co.uk"
£999.99
Random House USA Inc Cats People
Book Synopsis
£13.49
Troubador Publishing Frankie Gosling
Book SynopsisThe story begins in 1960, Nolwen grows up in a poor family in a remote part of West Wales. She is subjected to bullying at school where she is given the nickname Frankie Gosling. Escaping parental direction, she joins the WRAF at the age of seventeen, where she is forced to respond to the demands of strict disciplinarians, despite her fragile state of mind, a visual disorder and directional dyslexia. To face the challenges ahead she adapts her personality with pre-meditated positive and negative changes and is spurred along by wrongly motivated devious strategies.Armed with her personality changes but hindered by yet another medical condition, where she experiences episodes of memory loss, she is forced into a second career. The tide turns when she is selected to act as the presenter for her C.E.O. who is afflicted by a speech impediment and she re-discovers a musical talent which has lain dormant since her childhood. Nolwen falls in love, but her happiness is ripped apart. Although heart-breaking, humour lightens her story with engaging developments.Diagnosed with a condition which affects Nolwen's mind during her twilight years, we intriguingly revisit the events of her life. Links are formulated between her cognitive state and strange actions, with events of her youth and the psychological wounds which shaped her character.
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Gods of Atlantis Jack Howard 6
Book SynopsisA thrilling standalone sequel to ATLANTIS, David Gibbins'' international bestseller of high-action adventure, marine archaeology and the exploration of one of history''s most fascinating and enduring mysteries. A lost Nazi bunker in a forest in Germany contains a dreadful secret. But is there a horrifying new dimension - another ingredient in the Nazi''s rule of terror? Marine archaeologist Jack Howard returns to the lost island of Atlantis in the Black Sea to answer questions about the Atlantis priests that have plagued him. Then by tracking down the 1930s expeditions of Himmler''s Ahnenerbe - the Nazi''s Department of Cultural Heritage - and its link with Atlantis, Jack realises he is not just on the trail of the greatest lost relics from the past. Could there possibly be a terrifying new version of ''Atlantis'', a priesthood of evil? Jack must uncover the truth before it is too late.
£9.49
Duckworth Books Death in le Jardin
Book SynopsisCrisis hits Richard's rural French B&B when his redoubtable housekeeper is accused of murder. With Valérie d'Orçay at his side, their investigation leads them to a deadly scenario more tangled than knotweed.
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group The Big Bad Wolf
Book SynopsisAlex Cross''s first case since joining the FBI has his new colleagues perplexed. Across the country, men and women are kidnapped in broad daylight and then disappear completely. These people are not being taken for ransom, Alex realizes. They are being bought and sold. And it seems The Wolf is the master criminal behind this terrible trade and who is bringing a new reign of terror to organized crime. Even as he admires the FBI''s vast resources, Alex is impatient with the Bureau''s clumsiness and caution when it is time to move. A lone wolf himself, he has to go out alone to track his new prey and try to rescue some of the victims while they are still alive. As the case boils over, Alex is in hot water at home, too. His ex-fiancée, Christine Johnson, comes back into his life - and not for the reasons Alex might have hoped.Trade Review'If there really were human superheroes, Alex Cross would be at the head of the class...and, with each instalment in the series, Patterson makes sure his superhero gets bigger and better while at the same time becomming more vulnerable.' * New York Times *'Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... There's no stopping his imagination.' * New York Times Book Review *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Mermaid Chair
Book SynopsisThe New York Times-bestselling second novel by the author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Lets Meet on Platform 8
Book SynopsisDiscover the Sunday Times bestseller''s first novel - a hilarious rom-com about trying to find Mr RightTeri has dated more men than she''s had low-calorie, low-fat dinners, and she still hasn''t found Mr Right. She''s found other men though: Mr Lazy, Mr Greedy, Mr Completely Selfish, Mr Looking-For-Mother-Substitute and Mr Pervert. But no Mr Right.That is until she''s literally knocked off her feet by Jamie Duncan as they rush to catch the same train from Euston station: the 18.07 from platform 8. It''s not long before love blossoms and commuting takes on a whole new meaning.There''s just one problem. Teri may have found Mr Right, but he may not be Mr Available . . .Your favourite authors love Carole Matthews:''A gorgeous novel that will delight''KATIE FFORDE''Fun, fantastic and brimming with Matthews magic''MILLY JOHNSON''A life-affirming story full of joy and hope''Trade ReviewMatthews is one of the few writers who can rival Marian Keyes's gift for telling heart-warming tales with buckets of charm and laughs * Daily Record *A delicious treat * Heat *Lots of fun * Closer *A heart-warming tale * Daily Express *
£8.99
Little, Brown Book Group Other Peoples Secrets
Book SynopsisA gripping, twisty story of adultery and scandal from the bestselling author of Our House.''Candlish''s writing draws you in immediately'' Heat Everybody wants the truth . . . until they find it --------------------------------------------Ginny and Adam Trustlove arrive on holiday in Italy torn apart by personal tragedy. Two weeks in a boathouse on the edge of peaceful Lake Orta is exactly what they need to restore their faith in life - and each other.Twenty-four hours later, the silence is broken. The Sale family have arrived at the main villa: wealthy, high-flying Marty, his beautiful wife Bea, and their privileged, confident offspring. It doesn''t take long for Ginny and Adam to be drawn in, especially when the teenage Pippi introduces a new friend into the circle. For there is something about Zach that has everyone instantly beguiled, something that loosens old secrets - and creates sTrade ReviewA brilliantly told, emotionally charged tale' Dorothy Koomson * 'What a brilliant book this is – clever, engrossing and unputdownable. I absolutely loved it and demand a sequel!' Jill Mansell *This emotionally-charged tale is engrossing and utterly unputdownable. You'll want to finish it in one sitting * ***** News of the World *Candlish's writing draws you in immediately, and before you know it you're refusing to put this down . . . a more serious take than the usual chick-lit . . . an intriguing tale * **** Heat *Old secrets are shared and new ones created in this brilliant novel that will have you racing to get to the final chapter * **** She *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Into Temptation
Book SynopsisPower, politics and closely guarded secrets abound in INTO TEMPTATION, the third and final novel of Sunday Times bestselling author Penny Vincenzi''s Spoils of Time trilogy. ''Like an illicit lover, I have been sloping off all week to snatch another hour''s pleasure with ... Penny Vincenzi''s terrific new novel'' Jilly Cooper. The Lytton family past is full of secrets, and only Lady Celia knows them all. There''s her daughter Adele''s difficult, dark past; the dreadful cruelty of a truth her son Kit had to confront; even the shadows of Celia''s own life, and that of Barty Miller, the child she rescued from the slums in babyhood who now owns more than half of the Lytton publishing house. Some secrets are more dangerous than others, some shared with Celia''s family, some entirely her own. And all absolutely safe in her keeping. Until something threatens to reveal them all...Trade ReviewLike an illicit lover, I have been sloping off all week to snatch another hour's pleasure with ... Penny Vincenzi's terrific new novel -- Jilly CooperI defy any reader, once they've taken the smallest nibble, not to gobble it all down -- Sunday ExpressReading Penny Vincenzi is an addictive experience -- Elizabeth Buchan
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Good at Games
Book SynopsisJill Mansell''s hugely entertaining bestseller GOOD AT GAMES is perfect for you if you love reading Cathy Kelly, Milly Johnson and Lucy Diamond. Reviewers love Jill Mansell: ''A lovely uplifting read'' Good HousekeepingSuzy fell for Harry the moment she showed him her husband''s sperm sample. It didn''t really belong to her husband, though, because she wasn''t married. It wasn''t a sperm sample either, it was a drinks carton containing the dregs of her milkshake. But when you''re trying to get off a speeding charge you just have to improvise, don''t you? And it wasn''t actually love at first sight. Still, it was undeniably a healthy attack of lust. And it might just be the beginning of something special...What readers are saying about Good at Games: ''This book is hilariously funny, addictive and you just can''t stop once you''ve started. It''s my favourite romantic comedy book of all time'' AmazoTrade ReviewFull of likeable characters... A very funny and entertaining novel * Publishing News *An immensely enjoyable read * Heat *
£9.49
Duckworth Books Death and Boules
Book SynopsisRichard's adopted French home town is in the middle of a huge celebration, when the local mayor turns up dead - having apparently been killed twice. Richard and Valérie enter into a race to solve the crime first.
£13.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Chocolate Lovers Christmas
Book SynopsisCan friendship overcome all in The Chocolate Lovers' Christmas? Find out in the fantastic new Christmas novel from the Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller Carole Matthews.Trade ReviewSo warm, so festive * Jenny Colgan *So warm, so festive * Jenny Colgan *Fabulously enjoyable . . . full of heart and fun * Milly Johnson *Fabulously enjoyable . . . full of heart and fun * Milly Johnson *Full of joy and laughter * Trisha Ashley *Full of joy and laughter * Trisha Ashley *Simply brilliant * Closer *Simply brilliant * Closer *The perfect escape * Woman *The perfect escape * Woman *Carole Matthews delivers the perfect holiday read. * Woman *
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group A Minor Indiscretion
Book Synopsis A funny, romantic read from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Sunny Days and Sea Breezes Ali Kingston is happily married with three children. She isn''t the type to have her head turned - but then it isn''t every day that a gorgeous younger man falls at her feet.When Ed, Ali''s husband, finds out that she''s spent time with another man, he''s sure there''s more to it than just a minor indiscretion - so in a moment of madness he kicks Ali out of the house.Their family and friends do all they can to help Ali and Ed reconcile but nothing seems to work. And then fate intervenes . . .Your favourite authors love Carole Matthews:''A gorgeous novel that will delight''KATIE FFORDE''Fun, fantastic and brimming with Matthews magic''MILLY JOHNSON''A life-affirming story full of joy and hope''CATHY BRAMLEY''An irresistibly warm-hearted sTrade ReviewA feel-good tale * Marie Claire *All the warmth and wit we expect from Carole. Perfect * Bella *They get better every time * Observer *It makes you laugh one minute and cry the next * Prima *
£7.99
Little, Brown Book Group Shields Of Pride
Book SynopsisThe year is 1173. King Henry''s efforts to crush his rebellious sons ignite bloody border skirmishes throughout the land. Yet it is a time of triumph for mercenary Josceline de Gael, bastard son of the king''s most trusted ally. Victorious on the battlefield, de Gael suffers sweet defeat when his heart is conquered by the lovely Linnet de Montsorrel. But their love will find its greatest challenge as the torments of jealousy, suspicion, pride - and an enemy from beyond the grave - threaten all they hold dear.Trade ReviewA whirlwind of a historical novel * News of The WORLD *The story is strong, the characters very believable, and the mix of touching romance and full-blooded adventure is just right * Keighley News *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Time Keeper
Book SynopsisFROM THE MASTER STORYTELLER WHOSE BOOKS HAVE TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF OVER 40 MILLION READERS''Mitch Albom sees the magical in the ordinary'' Cecilia Ahern__________Banished for centuries, as punishment for trying to measure time, the inventor of the world''s first clock is finally granted his freedom, along with a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two people the true meaning of time.He embarks on a journey with two unlikely partners: a teenage girl who is about to give up on life and a wealthy, ageing businessman who wants to live for ever. To save himself, he must save them both.Gripping, and filled with deep human truth, this unforgettable story will inspire readers everywhere to reconsider their own notions of time and just how precious it truly is.__________WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT THE TIME KEEPER''As usual, Albom kept me completely captivated throughout this entire book. My only complaTrade ReviewMitch Albom sees the magical in the ordinary -- Cecilia AhernPowerful . . . Albom has touched the lives of a lot of people he never even knew * Time *Compelling and uplifting * Independent *A writer with soul * Los Angeles Times *Albom breaks hearts with his stories * Mirror *An enthralling fantasy ... A story that makes the reader consider the real value of their lives * The Lady *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group The First Phone Call From Heaven
Book SynopsisFROM THE MASTER STORYTELLER WHOSE BOOKS HAVE TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF OVER 40 MILLION READERS''Mitch Albom sees the magical in the ordinary'' Cecilia Ahern__________One last chance. What would you say? When the residents of a small town on Lake Michigan start receiving phone calls from the afterlife, it becomes the subject of widespread attention. Is it the greatest miracle ever or a massive hoax?Sully Harding, a grief-stricken single father, returns to Coldwater from a stint in prison to discover his hometown gripped by ''miracle fever.'' Even his young son carries a toy phone, hoping to hear from his mother in heaven.As the calls increase Sully begins to dig into the phenomenon. Determined to discover who or what is behind the mystery, he gradually begins to piece together the pieces of his broken heart. __________WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FIRST PHONE CALL FROM HEAVEN''GrippTrade ReviewMitch Albom sees the magical in the ordinary -- Cecilia AhernPowerful . . . Albom has touched the lives of a lot of people he never even knew * Time *Compelling and uplifting * Independent *A writer with soul * Los Angeles Times *Albom breaks hearts with his stories * Mirror *Mitch Albom sees the magical in the ordinary * Cecelia Ahern *You will be shaken, stirred and, finally, a little teary. Gorgeous * Star *It's set to be a word-of-mouth hit. Buy it, read it, then pass it on * Woman *This page-turner challenges beliefs about relationships, loss and life after death * The Sun *This story unfurls with grace and drama . . . most enjoyable * Sunday Mirror *His most moving and surprising novel yet * Take A Break Fiction Feast *This will have you reaching for the tissues * No.1 Magazine *Beautiful and smart. Perhaps the most stirring and transcendent heaven story since Field of Dreams * Matthew Quick, author of The Silver Linings Playbook *A beautifully rendered tale of faith and redemption that makes us think, feel and hope - and then doubt and then believe, as only Mitch Albom can make us do * Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Lady Of The English
Book SynopsisTwo very different women . . . Linked by destiny and a power struggle for the English crown.Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I, is determined to win back her crown from Stephen, the usurper king, against all odds and despite all men. Adeliza, Henry''s widowed queen and Matilda''s stepmother, has always been on Matilda''s side but now she is married to William D''Albini, a warrior of the opposition. In a world where a man''s word is law, how can Adeliza obey her husband while supporting Matilda, the rightful queen?What does it cost to be ''Lady of the English''?Trade ReviewRenowned historical novelist Chadwick tells this battle-of-the-sexes story from a woman's point of view, channeling Matilda and the wannabe regent's stepmother as storytellers New York Post
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Winner
Book Synopsis'A lean, careening thrill one of my favourite books of the year' Megan Nolan Riveting reading' The Times 'Irresistible A page-turning story of sex, power, and money' Vogue, Best Books of 2024 So Far
£10.80
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Wayward Girls
Book Synopsis
£17.00
Orion Publishing Co Recipe for Life
Book SynopsisEscape to Italy with this sumptuous story of secrets and friendships under Mediterranean skies.Trade ReviewA rich and heady story, redolent of fine Italian cooking and Mediterranean sunshine * EVENING TELEGRAPH *The descriptions of the Italian dishes are mouth-watering ... a great summer read * SOUTH WALES ARGUS *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Star Sullivan Quick Reads S
Book SynopsisMaeve Binchy''s highly successful Quick Read.''She is the Queen of Fiction and one of the funniest and best-loved storytellers in the world . . . once you read Maeve you are hooked for life'' IRISH TIMES''Maeve Binchy''s work continues to inspire ... thought-provoking, warm and funny in equal measure'' WOMANMolly Sullivan said that the new baby was a little star. She was no trouble at all and she was always smiling - so she became known as Star and no one remembered that her name was Oona.Star Sullivan just wanted everyone to be happy - her father to stop gambling, her mother not to work so hard, her brother to stay out of trouble, her sister to stop worrying about every little thing she ate. Then the Hale family moved in next door, and from the moment Star saw 23-year-old Laddy Hale, everything began to change - until Star was no longer the sweet, thoughtful girl everyone loved and no one worried about...Trade ReviewWarm, witty and with a deep understanding of what makes us tick, it's little wonder that Maeve Binchy's bewitching stories have become world-beaters * OK MAGAZINE *Reading her books is like gossiping with old friends * DAILY EXPRESS *She is the Queen of Fiction and one of the funniest and best-loved storytellers in the world . . . once you read Maeve you are hooked for life * IRISH TIMES *What is Maeve Binchy's magic? Every time she publishes a novel the race is on to the armchair or the poolside seat, telephones fall eerily silent . . . Her great gift is to suck her reader into the drama of everyday lives without fuss . . . She relies on dialogue and on keeping up a cracking pace * DAILY MAIL *Maeve Binchy is a master storyteller * NEW YORK TIMES *Binchy . . . is a class act * DAILY EXPRESS *
£6.83
Little, Brown & Company The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Vol. 8 light
Book SynopsisWith the hustle and bustle of the cultural festival finally behind them, normal life has returned. Amane confesses his feelings for Mahiru once again, leading them to make a vow for the future. Intent on getting the perfect gift to represent his feelings, Amane takes a step into unfamiliar territory and takes up a part-time job. Meanwhile, Mahiru also wants to demonstrate her love for Amane in some way. Despite feeling a little lonely, she waits anxiously for his return, carrying out her plan with utmost secrecy...!
£12.34
Amaurea Press The Hobby
Book Synopsis
£19.51
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Travelling Hornplayer
Book SynopsisBad, mad, flame-haired cellist Stella, adulterous Jonathan and high-spirited sisters Ellen and Lydia Dent find their fates bound together through love, loss and literature in this dazzling tragicomedyTrade ReviewPungent with life, with wit, love yearning and grief, The Travelling Hornplayer is Barbara Trapido’s most entertaining and powerful novel to date. Her fans might be forgiven for thinking this writer couldn't get any better. She just has * GUARDIAN *Murdochian entertainment: a tragicomedy of errors. Trapido ... races along with a kind of nervy glamour * NEW YORKER *This woman is brilliant. She deserves to be up there, topping the bestseller lists and winning all the prizes. And she actually makes you laugh … I enjoyed every page of this book, which is so shimmering with wit, hectic energy and crazy convolutions of plots that I eneded up in a state of sublime, satiated exhaustion * DAILY MAIL *Sprinkled with magic * SUNDAY TIMES *An entrancing, quirky confection packed with such a rich mixture of fun and pathos that readers may need to pause occasionally, if only draw emotional breath … She has the mind-teasing skills of a crime-writer combined with a sense of humour as dry as a Martini * TELEGRAPH *Witty ... moving ... clever, warm-hearted * NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW *A funny, cunning and surprisingly sexy novel, which moved at least this reader to both tears and laughter * SUNDAY TIMES *The brilliant [Trapido] ... is one of the better-kept secrets of contemporary letters ... [She] is a great novelist; sooner or later the whole reading world will know it * SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE *Audacious, energetic and dazzing … The vividness, and the immediately engaging style, is as sure as ever, and the Dickensian swiftness with which she can draw a character is full of charm … There aren’t many novelists whose stories one doesn’t want to end, but Barbara Trapido is one of them -- PHILIP HENSHER * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Reading Barbara Trapido is sheer pleasure. Afterwards, I went out and bought everything else she has written - and am only disappointed I didn't do it earlier * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *
£8.99
Vintage Publishing The Woman Who Walked into Doors
Book SynopsisFrom the Booker Prize winning author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and The Commitments: the story of an ordinary woman whose extraordinary character will stay with you long after reading.‘He loved me and he beat me.Trade ReviewIt is the triumph of this novel that Doyle - entirely without condescension - shows the inner life of this battered housewife to be the same stuff as that of the heroes of the great novels of Europe -- Mary Gordon * New York Times Book Review *In feeling the pulse of a raw Dublin suburb, Doyle is recording a beat that can be recognised all over the world * The Times *This new novel is Roddy Doyle's best to date. I cannot recall any writer who has better captured the vulnerability and courage of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage * Cork Examiner *Even more mesmerizing than his prize-winning Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha * Daily Mail *Impassioned, dignified and richly humane * Independent *His best work yet * The Times *Compulsively readable * Financial Times *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Trouble with Lichen
Book SynopsisFROM THE RENOWNED CLASSIC SCI-FI WRITER AND AUTHOR OF THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS AND THE CHRYSTALIDS''Ingenious'' Evening StandardFrancis Saxover and Diana Brackley, two scientists investigating a rare lichen, discover it has a remarkable property: it retards the aging process. Francis, realising the implications for the world of an ever-youthful, wealthy elite, wants to keep it secret, but Diana sees an opportunity to overturn the male status quo by using the lichen to inspire a feminist revolution.As each scientist wrestles with the implications and practicalities of exploiting the discovery, the world comes ever closer to learning the truth . . .Trouble With Lichen is a scintillating story of the power wielded by science in our lives and asks how much trust should we place in those we appoint to be its guardians?Trade ReviewIngenious * Evening Standard *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Memory Keepers Daughter
Book SynopsisThe multi-million copy bestseller, Kim Edwards'' The Memory Keeper''s Daughter is a moving and poignant novel about grief, family and betrayal.Families have secrets they hide even from themselves...It should have been an ordinary birth, the start of an ordinary happy family. But the night Dr David Henry delivers his wife''s twins is a night that will haunt five lives for ever.For though David''s son is a healthy boy, his daughter has Down''s syndrome. And, in a shocking act of betrayal whose consequences only time will reveal, he tells his wife their daughter died while secretly entrusting her care to a nurse.As grief quietly tears apart David''s family, so a little girl must make her own way in the world as best she can.''Crafted with language so lovely you have to reread the passages just to be captivated all over again . . . this is simply a beautiful book'' Jodi Picoult ''I loved this riveting story with its intricateTrade ReviewCrafted with language so lovely you have to reread the passages just to be captivated all over again . . . this is simply a beautiful book * Jodi Picoult *I loved this riveting story with its intricate characters and beautiful language -- Sue Monk Kidd, author of the best-selling * The Secret Life of Bees *I loved this riveting story with its intricate characters and beautiful language -- Sue Monk Kidd, author of the best-selling * The Secret Life of Bees *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Put Out More Flags Penguin Modern Classics
Book SynopsisUpper-class rogues, bohemians, dowagers, socialites, bureaucrats and delinquent evacuees prepare for England to change forever, in this hilarious and deadly serious 1942 satire on the ''phoney war''The hideous, then unfamiliar shriek of the air-raid sirens sang out over LondonWhat happened to the characters of Decline and Fall and Vile Bodies when the war broke out? Put Out More Flags shows them adjusting to the changing social pattern of the times. Some of them play a valorous part; others, like the scapegrace Basil Sea, disclose their incorrigible habit of self-preservation in all circumstances. Basil''s contribution to the war effort involves the use of his peculiar talents in such spheres of opportunity as the Ministry of Information and an obscure section of Military Security - adventures which incite Evelyn Waugh to another pungent satire upon the coteries of Mayfair.Trade Reviewa wicked satire in the well-known Waugh manner * The New York Times *a novel of breathtaking symmetry, grace, craft, and discipline -- L. E. Sissman * The Atlantic *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Scoop
Book SynopsisEvelyn Waugh''s brilliantly irreverent satire of Fleet Street, with an introduction by Alexander WaughLord Copper, newspaper magnate and proprietor of The Daily Beast, has always prided himself on his intuitive flair for spotting ace reporters. That is not to say he has not made the odd blunder, however, and may in a moment of weakness make another. Acting on a dinner party tip from Mrs Algernon Stitch, he feels convinced that he has hit on just the chap to cover a promising little war in the African Republic of Ishmaelia. But for, pale, ineffectual William Boot, editor of the Daily Beast''s ''nature notes'' column, being mistaken for a competent journalist may prove to be a fatal error...''Waugh at the mid-season point of his perfect pitch''Christopher Hitchens
£9.49
Verve Books The Book of X
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Finnegans Wake
Book SynopsisA daring work of experimental, Modernist genius, James Joyce's Finnegans Wake is one of the greatest literary achievements of the twentieth century, and the crowning glory of Joyce's life. The Penguin Modern Classics edition of includes an introduction by Seamus Deane'riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs'Joyce's final work, Finnegan's Wake is his masterpiece of the night as Ulysses is of the day. Supreme linguistic virtuosity conjures up the dark underground worlds of sexuality and dream. Joyce undermines traditional storytelling and all official forms of English and confronts the different kinds of betrayal - cultural, political and sexual - that he saw at the heart of Irish history. Dazzlingly inventive, with passages of great lyrical beauty and humour, Finnegans Wake remains one of the most remarkable works of the twentieth cent
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd What is the What
Book SynopsisWhat is the What is Dave Eggers''s astonishing novel about one of the world''s most brutal civil warsValentino Achak Deng is just a boy when conflict separates him from his family and forces him to leave his small Sudanese village, joining thousands of other orphans on their long, long walk to Ethiopia, where they find safety - for a time. Along the way Valentino encounters enemy soldiers, liberation rebels and deadly militias, hyenas and lions, disease and starvation. But there are experiences ahead that will test his spirit in even greater ways than these . . .Truly epic in scope, and told with expansive humanity, deep compassion and unexpected humour, What is the What is an eye-opening account of life amid the madness of war and an unforgettable tale of tragedy and triumph.''If there was ever any doubt that Dave Eggers is one of our most important storytellers, What Is the What should put it to rest... [A] strange, beautiful and unforgettable work'' San Francisco Chronicle''A remarkable book: harrowing, witty, wretched, delightful; and always compelling, always surprising'' London Review of BooksAll of the author''s proceeds from this book will go to the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation. Read more at: www.valentinoachakdeng.com.Trade ReviewRead Dave Eggers' What is the What – it's the best book of the year * Guardian *If there was ever any doubt that Dave Eggers is one of our most important storytellers, What Is the What should put it to rest... [A] strange, beautiful and unforgettable work * San Francisco Chronicle *'A remarkable book: harrowing, witty, wretched, delightful; and always compelling, always surprising' London Review of BooksIf there was ever any doubt that Dave Eggers is one of our most important storytellers, What Is the What should put it to rest... [A] strange, beautiful and unforgettable work * San Francisco Chronicle *
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co The Lifeline
Book Synopsis''I loved this book - could not put it down'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''A joy to read... I really did love every page of this book'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''An easy five stars'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Everybody needs saving sometimes...For Kate, having a newborn baby means she is almost never alone. But that doesn''t mean she isn''t lonely. The move from London to Somerset with her husband Jay was supposed be the start of an exciting new chapter. But sometimes she can''t help but wonder if she turned the pages too soon . . . Phoebe needs help. As a mental health nurse serving her community, the wellbeing of her patients has always come before her own. Yet there''s only so long she can pour from an empty cup. Looking for a lifeline, Kate and Phoebe find a sense of community - and each other - through their local river swimming group. But when things get tough, they realise
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers SuperCannes
Book SynopsisA high-tech business park on the Mediterranean is the setting for a most disturbing crime in this reissue featuring an introduction by Ali Smith.People are so immersed in their work they wouldn't notice the end of the world.A high-tech business park lies hidden in the hills above Cannes an ultra-modern utopia where residents live a life of luxury and seclusion.But when Jane Sinclair arrives in Eden-Olympia for a new medical post, a disturbing mystery awaits. What caused her apparently sane predecessor to murder ten people in a shooting spree that made headlines around the world? As her husband Paul explores his new surroundings, he begins to uncover a thriving subculture of crime that is spiralling out of control.Both novel of ideas and complex thriller, Super-Cannes is an extraordinary satire from the author of Empire of the Sun', The Drowned World' and Crash'.Trade Review‘Sublime…An elegant, elaborate trap of a novel, which reads as a companion piece to “Cocaine Nights” but takes ideas from that novel and runs further. The first essential novel of the 21st century’ Independent ‘Possibly his greatest book. “Super-Cannes” is both a novel of ideas and a compelling thriller that will keep you turning the pages to the shocking denouement. Only Ballard could have produced it’ Sunday Express ‘In this tautly paced thriller he brilliantly details how man’s darker side derails a vast experiment in living, and shows the dangers of a near-future in which going mad is the only way of staying sane’ Daily Mail ‘Vintage Ballard, a gripping blend of stylised thriller and fantastic imaginings’ Guardian
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers The Painted Drum
Book SynopsisFrom the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction, 2012 comes this elegantly crafted novel that explores the strange power that lost children exert on the memories of those they leave behindWhen Faye Travers is sent to appraise a family estate in a small New Hampshire town and comes across a forgotten set of valuable Native American artefacts, she is not surprised by the discovery. However, she is shocked when she finds a rare drum particularly because without even touching the instrument she hears its deep resonant sound.Following the discovery, we trace the drum''s passage both backwards and forwards in time. We hear the voice of Bernard Shaawano, an Ojibwe, who tells of how his grandfather created the drum after years of mourning his younger daughter''s death and how it changes the paths of those who cross it. Through Faye, we experience her anguished relationship with a local sculptor who also mourns the loss of a daughter, and witness the life Faye has made alone with her moTrade Review‘The author knows how to spin a good yarn … Full of poetic writing and a passionate indignation on behalf of the dispossessed, this novel shows the author at her best.’ The Times ‘Erdrich handles the shift in pace beautifully. The world she portrays is harsh, with death from smallpox or starvation giving way to the oppressions of poverty and alcoholism. But such is the unsentimental poetry of Erdrich’s vision that it becomes a place to almost envy, too.’ Observer 'Resonant, poetic and exact … these visions will remain imprinted on the reader's mind.' Los Angeles Times 'Intricate and beautifully written.' Boston Globe 'Spare, perceptive, unsentimental.' New York Times
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Chasing Harry Winston
Book SynopsisFrom the author of the million copy bestselling The Devil Wears Prada.Three best friends. Two resolutions. One year to pull it off.Emmy has just split with her boyfriend of five years. A serial monogamist, she suddenly realises how much she's missed the thrill of single life. A new job travelling across the globe could offer her the one thing she is craving, so she vows to find a man on every continent for some pure no-strings-attached fun.Adriana is stunning and can have any man she desires. Yet all she wants is an eligible bachelor who''ll slip a five-carat Harry Winston diamond on her finger.Leigh has a doting boyfriend that most girls would kill for. But when literary bad boy Jesse Chapman asks to work with her and more, she just can''t refuse.The three friends make a pact come hell or high water, they must change one thing in their lives by the end of the yearTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR LAUREN WEISBERGER: ‘This little gem mixes Sex and the City charm with dry New York wit.’ REAL ‘Sassy, insightful and sooo Sex and The City, you'll be rushing to the bookshop for your copy like it's a half price Prada sale.’ COMPANY ‘The most fun we've had in ages.’ HEAT ‘Delicious…a great insight into the world of magazines and fashion.’ RED
£13.49
Crown The English Problem
Book SynopsisA young Indian man is tapped to help his country’s fight for freedom—but his heart engages him in a different war.“Grand, sweeping, mesmerizing . . . a richly detailed, politically profound story of love, of migration, of individuals caught up in the great convulsions of history.”—Joseph O’Neill, PEN/Faulkner Award–winning author of GodwinShiv Advani is an eighteen-year-old growing up in India. But he is no ordinary young man. Shiv has been personally chosen by Mahatma Gandhi to come to England, learn their laws, and then return home and help drive the British out of India. Before he leaves, his family insists he fulfill his arranged marriage, and he is hastily betrothed to a young woman he hardly knows.He arrives in London and soon discovers a world he is both repelled by and drawn to. Shiv knows his duty: get in, learn the letter of the law, get out. But as anyone who has ever lived in a Bri
£21.75
Biteback Publishing Kings Gambit
Book SynopsisWith a background as a special forces soldier, Holger Berg is framed as a deniable pawn in a murky plan to rescue the hostage.
£9.49
Bookouture The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz
Book SynopsisMillions of people walked into Auschwitz, but she was the first woman who escaped. This powerful novel is inspired by the true story of Mala Zimetbaum, whose fate altered the course of history... Nobody leaves Auschwitz alive. Mala, inmate 19880, understood that the moment she stepped off the cattle train into the depths of hell. As an interpreter for the SS, she uses her position to save as many lives as she can. Edward, inmate 531, is a camp veteran and a political prisoner. Crucially, he''s also part of the underground Resistance. And he has an escape plan. When Mala meets Edward, he makes her believe in the impossible: they will leave this death camp. A promise is made--they will escape together or they will die together. What follows is one of the greatest love stories in history...Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Choice, and The Orphan Train will love this breathtakingly beautiful t
£8.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Garden Party and Other Stories Katherine
Book SynopsisInnovative, startlingly perceptive and aglow with colour, these fifteen stories were written towards the end of Katherine Mansfield's tragically short life. Many are set in the author's native New Zealand, others in England and the French Riviera. All are revelations of the unspoken, half-understood emotions that make up everyday experience - from the blackly comic 'The Daughters of the Late Colonel', and the short, sharp sketch 'Miss Brill', in which a lonely woman's precarious sense of self is brutally destroyed, to the vivid impressionistic evocation of family life in 'At the Bay'. 'All that I write,' Mansfield said, 'all that I am - is on the borders of the sea. It is a kind of playing.'For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the serie
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd The Lost Estate Le Grand Meaulnes
Book SynopsisThe Lost Estate is Robin Buss''s translation of Henri Alain-Fournier''s poignant study of lost love, Le Grand Meaulnes.''I read it for the first time when I was seventeen and loved every page. I find its depiction of a golden time and place just as poignant now as I did then'' Nick Hornby When Meaulnes first arrives at the local school in Sologne, everyone is captivated by his good looks, daring and charisma. But when Meaulnes disappears for several days, and returns with tales of a strange party at a mysterious house - and his love for the beautiful girl hidden within it, Yvonne de Galais - his life has been changed forever. In his restless search for his Lost Estate and the happiness he found there, Meaulnes, observed by his loyal friend Francois, may risk losing everything he ever had. Poised between youthful admiration and adult resignation, Alain-Fournier''s compelling narrator carries the reader through this evocative and unbearably poignaTrade Review“I read it for the first time when I was seventeen and loved every page. I find its depiction of a golden time and place just as poignant now as I did then.” ―Nick Hornby“[A] favorite . . . a beautiful and mysterious story about the end of childhood.” ―Claire Messud, The New York Times Book Review
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Lord Jim A Tale Penguin Classics
Book SynopsisThis compact novel, completed in 1900, as with so many of the great novels of the time, is at its baseline a book of the sea. An English boy in a simple town has dreams bigger than the outdoors and embarks at an early age into the sailor's life. The waters he travels reward him with the ability to explore the human spirit, while Joseph Conrad launches the story into both an exercise of his technical prowess and a delicately crafted picture of a character who reaches the status of a literary hero.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers City of the Beasts
Book SynopsisAn ecological romance with a pulsing heart, equal parts Rider Haggard and Chico Buarque one of the world's greatest and most beloved storytellers broadens her style and reach with a Amazonian adventure story that will appeal to all ages.Fifteen-year-old Alexander Cold has the chance to take the trip of a lifetime.With his mother in hospital, too ill to look after him, Alex is sent out to his grandmother Kate a fearless reporter with blue eyes as sharp as daggers' points'. Kate is about to embark on an expedition to the dangerous, remote world of the Amazon rainforest, but rather than change her plans, she simply takes Alex along with her. They set off with their team including a local guide and his daughter Nadia, with her wild, curly hair and skin the colour of honey in search of a fabled headhunting tribe and a legendary, marauding creature known to locals as the Beast', only to find out much, much more about the mysteries of the jungle and its inhabitants.In a novel rich in adveTrade ReviewPraise for Isabel Allende: ‘A magical storyteller.’ Daily Mail ‘Allende’s writing is so vivid we hear the sounds, see the bright birds, smell and even taste the soft fruit.’ The Times ‘A wonderful, seemingly effortless storyteller; you feel yourself sink into the folds of her narrative with an almost childlike certainty that you're going to hear a good story well told.’ Irish Independent ‘Her prose is rich and magical, her characters vivid. She mixes violence and horror, love and humour, with more than a touch of genius.’ Mary Wesley
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Arrow of God
Book SynopsisEzeulu, headstrong chief priest of the god Ulu, is worshipped by the six villages of Umuaro. But he is beginning to find his authority increasingly under threat - from his rivals in the tribe, from those in the white government and even from his own family. Yet he still feels he must be untouchable - surely he is an arrow in the bow of his God? Armed with this belief, he is prepared to lead his people, even if it means destruction and annihilation. Yet the people will not be so easily dominated.Spare and powerful, Arrow of God is an unforgettable portrayal of the loss of faith, and the struggle between tradition and change. Continuing the epic saga of the community in Things Fall Apart, it is the second volume of Achebe''s African trilogy, and is followed by No Longer at Ease.
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd My Name is Asher Lev Penguin Modern Classics
Book SynopsisAsher Lev is a gifted loner, the artist who painted the sensational Brooklyn Crucifixion. Into it he poured all the anguish and torment a Jew can feel when torn between the faith of his fathers and the calling of his art. Here Asher Lev plunges back into his childhood and recounts the story of love and conflict which dragged him to this crossroads.
£9.49
